Individuals (1)

Questions & Answers

Questions from The League of Women Voters of California Education Fund and California Counts, a public media collaboration. (6)

The Federal Government plays a part in California water allocation and use through a variety of laws. What, if any, legislation would you support in an effort to handle water shortages caused by the current and any future drought?

Answer from Loretta L. Sanchez:

California’s economy will be stronger in the long term by fundamentally adapting to the reality of the drought. California has the tools and resources at our disposal to solve the drought crisis and increase security and prosperity for all of our regions. Constraints force innovation and California must put its greatest minds together to create new technologies and infrastructures to confront the drought. I support immediate desalinization incentives. I support duplicating the water reuse plan that has served my congressional district and OC statewide and I also support Senator Dianne Feinstein's efforts on the drought relief bill where all stakeholders have a seat at the table. Senator Feinstein’s bill aims to provide short-term drought relief and to increase long-term regional water sustainability. Investing in common-sense water infrastructure projects, which are best suited for each geographic region of California will benefit our environment and provide long-term savings to California taxpayers.

Do you support the use of a federal carbon tax on the amount of carbon dioxide emitted by the use of fossil fuels (such as coal, oil and natural gas) as a means to both slow climate change and to reduce the deficit? Why or why not?

Answer from Loretta L. Sanchez:

Over the past several years the EPA has put forward strong standards to protect public health and to regulate pollution, including carbon. We must support upholding te enforcement of environmental laws that require all polluters, including power plants and factories, to meet stringent standards to reduce carbon, soot, smog, sulfur and other air and water pollution. I believe we must incentivize the production of clean energy. That is whyI co- signed a letter of support for the extension of both Production Tax Credit (PTC) and the Investment Tax Credit (ITC), which provide tax credits to various renewable electricity sources. Today the fossil fuel industry – coal, oil, and natural gas – benefits from numerous direct and indirect subsidies. These loopholes allow them to avoid complying with laws to protect our air and water. Congress needs to end these subsidies and close the loopholes.

What is your stand on gun control laws at the federal level? Please explain the reasoning behind your position.

Answer from Loretta L. Sanchez:

Gun violence demands a strong response. While I affirm the constitutional right to bear arms, I support reasonable regulation of firearms. I support the proposed ban on high-capacity magazines, child safety locks, waiting periods for gun sales, development of “smart gun” technology, universal background checks for all sales, closing the gun-show loophole and enhanced gun control regulation at the state and federal levels.

Should immigration laws be changed? What changes would you support? Please explain why.

Answer from Loretta L. Sanchez:

Immigration is the moral imperative of our nation and a key issue I want to address in the Senate. Our immigration system is broken, deeply dysfunctional and must be reformed now. I have voted time and time again for the commonsense, bipartisan DREAM Act which would provide millions of young people who grew up in the United States with the opportunity to achieve the American Dream and a chance to contribute to our country's well-being by serving in the Armed Forces or pursuing a higher education. I've continued pushing for this commonsense bipartisan legislation's passage and I've held listening session with local activists to ensure their important voices and perspectives are included. The DREAM Act passed in the House but failed in the Senate, which is why I want to provide a strong voice for passing comprehensive immigration reform in the Senate.

At the federal level, should recreational marijuana be legalized? Why or why not?

Answer from Loretta L. Sanchez:

Legalizing marijuana is a decision that should be left up to the voters of each individual state. The federal government should not step in if a state votes to legalize the recreational use of marijuana, as Washington and Colorado have. Marijuana should be decriminalized and moved from Schedule I to Schedule II. I have always supported access to medical marijuana. I have voted against funding to the DOJ to conduct raids on medical marijuana dispensaries. I have worked to bring this industry out from the black market by supporting efforts to allow banks to hold accounts for medical marijuana businesses. I also supported the move to unionize the first medical marijuana dispensary in California, which occurred in my district.

Is the Trans Pacific Partnership Trade Agreement good for California? Would you vote to support it? Please explain why or why not.

Answer from Loretta L. Sanchez:

I have opposed the Trans-Pacific Partnership and believe any trade agreement must protect American labor, intellectual property rights, and economic interests. We also shouldn't engage in trade deals with countries that have abysmal human rights records and can not be trusted to fix those injustices. American workers should not be forced to compete against the lowest bidder.

Who gave money to this candidate?

Contributions

Total money raised: $3,724,532

Top contributors that gave money to support the candidate, by organization:

1

Employees of Loretta Sanchez

$300,000

2

Employees of Aitken Aitken Cohn

$32,400

3

Employees of Newport Orthopedic Institute

$25,300

4

Molina Healthcare and employees

$21,700

5

Employees of Garcia Hamilton & Associates

$19,150

More information about contributions

By State:

California 66.35%

Texas 9.62%

District of Columbia 7.57%

Virginia 3.67%

Other 12.79%

66.35%9.62%12.79%

By Size:

Large contributions (98.65%)

Small contributions (1.35%)

98.65%

By Type:

From organizations (14.09%)

From individuals (85.91%)

14.09%85.91%

Source: MapLight analysis of data from the Federal Election Commission.

Official Statement

Researched by Voter’s Edge

Source: California Secretary of State

California needs an experienced and proven leader to tackle the full range of economic, educational and security challenges we face today. Our next U.S. Senator must have extensive legislative and national security experience and share the life experiences of working people. I do, and that’s why I am the best candidate for the job. I came from a union household of immigrant parents who struggled to provide for their seven children. I worked my way through college with the help of government and union grants, and the Anaheim Rotary Club paid for my MBA. I know the struggles of working families. My parents worked hard, valued education and are the only parents in American history to send two daughters to Congress. That’s why I have fought passionately in Congress for 20 years for education, tuition assistance, healthcare reform, immigration reform, gender equality, LGBT rights, worker’s rights, and environmental protection. I’ve also demonstrated independent judgment and courage when it mattered most: I voted against the Iraq War, the Patriot Act, and the bank bailouts, when few others did. As a senior member of the Armed Services and Homeland Security Committees, I’ve worked to ensure our troops are trained and equipped to win and cared for when they come home. I’m the only candidate with the national security experience necessary to keep America safe. As your Senator, I will fight for all Californians, so together we can have a stronger and more prosperous future. I humbly ask for your vote.